Plant Northwest-Friendly Bulbs This Fall for An Explosion of Color Next Spring

With a little work—and plenty of patience—your next spring garden will be incredible.

The practice of planting spring-blooming bulbs is a timeless expression of faith. You plant, you wait, and—hopefully—you marvel. And in the Pacific Northwest, spring certainly wouldn’t be spring without those sunny yellow daffodils popping up across town. But there’s the risk of tipping into the English cottage garden look. A modern Portland spread calls for more Joan Miro, less Thomas Kinkade. When you’re planting this fall, opt for one of these dynamic, strongly architectural flowers in groups of 20 or more, and add a bold pop of intentional design to your yard.

Foxtail Lily

Spectacular early-summer spires are composed of thousands of densely packed flowers, blooming upward from the bottom of each willowy spike. Also known as desert candles, foxtails require rich, well-draining soil in full sun that dries out in summer, without competition from spring through early summer—perfect for dry gravel and succulent beds. TRY:Eremurus bungei (yellow), Cleopatra (burnt orange), White Beauty (white with yellow centers)